Kreber, Ronald L. 1957-2002

KREBER, POTTEBAUM, BRAND, THOMPSON, EICHORN, VANDER WILT, VAN DER HART, VAN ZEE

Posted By: volunteer (email)
Date: 8/21/2005 at 20:07:11

WAUKEE - Ronald L. Kreber, 44, of Waukee, died of leukemia Tuesday, Sept. 10, at Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines.

His funeral service will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday at First Reformed Church in Sully. Burial: Sully Cemetery. Visiting hours at Van Dyk-Duven Funeral Home in Pella begin 6 p.m. today and continue 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. The family will greet visitors 6-8 p.m. Friday at the church. A memorial is being established in his name for a trust fund for his three sons.

Ronald L. Kreber was born Oct. 22, 1957, in Le Mars to Arnold and Lorraine Pottebaum Kreber. He graduated from the Catholic school in Granville in 1976; he was catcher on the baseball team. He received a scholarship from Wayne State to play baseball, and graduated from there in 1980 with a major in business.

He married Bonita J. Brand in Sully on April 9, 1988. He currently worked at Accenture as an account manager. He previously worked at Meredith Publishing in business systems, at Citibank in Sioux Falls, N.D. as a computer programmer, and at Grinnell Mutual as a marketing representative.

He was a member of the United Methodist Church in Waukee, and was chairperson of a bond referendum for the Waukee school system. He enjoyed sports, golfing and coaching his children's sports teams.

He is survived by his wife, Bonita, of Waukee; three sons: Michael Lee (11), Austin Joel (8) and Colton Taylor (6), all at home; his parents, Arnold and Lorraine Kreber of Alton; three sisters and two brothers-in-law: Janet Kreber of Brighton, Shirley and Jim Thompson of Lincoln, Neb., and Rose and Gary Eichorn of Bettendorf; two brothers: Charles Kreber of Granville and Glenn Kreber of Greeley, Colo.; and his step-grandmother, Marian Pottebaum of Remsen.

The Oskaloosa Herald, September 12, 2002
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Funeral services for Ronald L. Kreber, 44, of Waukee, Iowa were held September 14 at First Reformed Church in Sully, the Rev. Roger Punt officiated and Mr. Jim Pech, remembrances. Music was provided by organist Mrs. Linda Schnell and one recorded selection.

Interment was at the Sully Cemetery in Sully. Casket bearers were Mr. Joe Conlon, Mr. Ron Hankins, Mr. Doug Hansen, Mr. Tom Murphy, Mr. Jeff Paup, and Mr. Jim Pech.

Ronald Lee Kreber was born on October 22, 1957 at LeMars, Iowa. He was the fifth of six children born to Arnold and Lorraine Pottebaum Kreber. Ronald attended the Spalding Catholic School at Granville, Iowa where he graduated from high school with the class of 1976. During high school, Ron was the catcher on the state tournament baseball team. Ron then received a scholarship to attend Wayne State College in Wayne, Nebraska. Ron continued playing baseball there and graduated with a Business Major in 1980. His first post graduation employment was at Grinnell Mutual Reinsurance Company in Grinnell where he was employed as a marketing representative. Ron later became a computer programmer for Citibank in Sioux Falls, South Dakota and then was employed as a business systems analyst for Meredith Publishing Company in Des Moines.

It was during this time he met his wife to be, Bonita Joy Brand of Sully. Ron and Bonita were united in marriage on April 9, 1988 at the First Reformed Church in Sully. To this union three sons were born: Michael Lee on March 16, 1991, Austin Joel on June 14, 1994 and Colton Taylor on June 2, 1996 while the family was living in Waukee. Ron was currently employed with Accenture as an account manager. His business responsibilities frequently took him to the state of Florida.

On July 5, 2002 Ron was diagnosed with acute leukemia and since that time had been hospitalized at the Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines. Ron passed away there on Tuesday afternoon, September 10, 2002 at the age of just 44 years, 10 months and 18 days.

Although life for Ron was brief, he lived it to the fullest and leaves many fond memories as being a husband, dad, son, and brother. His family will cherish these memories. Ron and his family were members of the United Methodist Church in Waukee. He and his wife, Bonita, were active parents with the Waukee School System. Ron enjoyed coaching his sons with the basketball, baseball and soccer teams. He also enjoyed playing cards and board games with family and friends and was an avid Iowa Hawkeye sports fan. Ron enjoyed sports, golfing and was a warm and out-going person.

He is survived by his wife, Bonita; their three sons: Michael, a sixth grader, Austin, a third grader and Colton, a first grader at Waukee Schools in Waukee; his parents: Arnold and Lorraine Kreber of Alton, IA; his sisters and brothers: Sister Janet Kreber of Brighton, IA; Charles (Chuck) Kreber of Granville, IA; Shirley and her husband, Jim Thompson of Lincoln, Neb.; Rose and her husband, Garry Eichorn of Bettendorf, IA; Glenn Kreber of Greeley, Colo.; and his step-grandmother, Mrs. Marian (William) Pottebaum of Remsen, IA. Ron leaves his father-in-law and mother-in-law: Clarence H. and Vera Vander Wilt Brand; and his sisters-in-law: Connie L. and her husband, Thomas W. Van Der Hart; Ladonna M. and her husband, Terry D. Van Zee all of Pella; eleven nieces and nephews and a host of other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents: William and Olivia Pottebaum; his paternal grandparents: August and Clara Kreber; and a brother-in-law, Gary E. Brand who passed away on October 5, 1989 just eight days prior to his 40th birthday.

Arrangements were handled by Van Dyk - Duven Funeral Home in Pella.

For those desiring, a trust fund is being established in Ron's memory for his three sons.

Contributions may be made to the Ronald L. Kreber Memorial, 42 Hi-View Knoll, Waukee, Iowa 50263.

The Pella (IA) Chronicle, September 27, 2002